Niners draft history – 2nd pick of 1965

With the 13th pick in the 1965 NFL Draft (2nd pick in 1st round), the San Francisco 49ers selected George Donnelly, a 6’3”, 210 pound defensive back out of the University of Illinois. The Denver Broncos would also select Donnelly in the fourth round of the AFL Draft. Donnelly opted to go to the NFL, where he would spend three seasons with the 49ers. In the three seasons that Donnelly spent for the team, he started 18 of 33 games and had 2 interceptions returned for 16 yards. After the 1967 season, Donnelly did not play for any other team.

Donnelly was the second player selected by both the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL and the Denver Broncos of the AFL, just like Kermit Alexander (1963). The difference is that Alexander, a defensive back as well, would have a nice career.